Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Rhode Island (May 2026)
Through May 2026, 269 carriers in Rhode Island employ W2 company drivers across the lanes Lanefinder tracks. KEEP TRUCKING LLC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,200. True Transport Inc. follows at $2,250/week. Rhode Island is the smallest state by area but sits directly on I-95 connecting Boston and Providence, with the Port of Providence handling bulk cargo and the Providence metro serving as a distribution point for southern New England.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where CDL pay is strongest in Rhode Island this month
The top of the list is KEEP TRUCKING LLC at $2,200/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1KEEP TRUCKING LLC — $2,200/wk
KEEP TRUCKING LLC tops the Rhode Island ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. KEEP TRUCKING LLC sits in the 94th percentile for weekly pay among Rhode Island carriers. KEEP TRUCKING LLC's top FMCSA dimension is controlled-substances compliance, in the 88th percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags KEEP TRUCKING LLC as a responsive employer.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. sits in the 97th percentile for weekly pay among Rhode Island carriers. On unsafe-driving avoidance, the carrier ranks in the 99th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. Lanefinder's application data flags True Transport Inc. as a responsive employer.
True Transport Inc. actually pays more weekly than the top-ranked carrier — $2,250/week.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC sits in the 94th percentile for weekly pay among Rhode Island carriers. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC ranks in the 94th percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #5 HMD TRUCKING INC at $1,800/wk, #6 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #7 DIVINE ENTERPRISES at $1,375/wk, #8 GATEWAY DISTRIBUTION at $1,750/wk, #9 JS HELWIG & SON LLC at $1,850/wk, #10 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,700/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Rhode Island
17% of Rhode Island's active CDL postings are regional and 69% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (14%).
Across Rhode Island CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 68% take-truck-home, 57% pet-friendly, 59% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Rhode Island
Rhode Island is the smallest US state by area but sits directly on I-95 connecting Boston and Providence, putting it in the dense Northeast freight corridor. The Port of Providence handles bulk cargo (oil and aggregates especially). The Providence metro serves as a regional distribution point for southern New England. Cost of living is high; Rhode Island has a moderate graduated state income tax. The state's small geography means most regional drivers based here spend significant time in MA, CT, and NY — treat RI as an I-95 transit waypoint.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Rhode Island
- CDL driver salary in Rhode Island
- Best trucking companies in the United States
How we compile these rankings
Compensation is the largest single weight at 30% — pay percentile, sign-on bonus, guaranteed-pay availability, and settlement cadence. FMCSA safety contributes 25%, built from five SAFER dimensions with unsafe-driving and hours-of-service weighted 2× heavier. Benefits contribute 25%, scored separately for W2 versus owner-operator and 1099 carriers. Operational performance — application responsiveness and fleet scale — contributes 20%. Updated May 2026.